New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-12
THOUSANDS VIEW TIRE PREACHERS FACE.


LITTLE CHILDREN DROP FLOWERS on THE COFFIN
LINES REACHING TO THE BRIDGE
Mr. Beecher's 1dy lay in state in Plymouth Church
from noon yesterday until 10 o'clock last night. As
soor as the big church could be cleared after the
funeral services the eastern doors and aisle were
thrown open for the crowd that had been waiting in
dense line that stretched back 70 and down Hcnry-st
TO take last look at the dead preacher CAPTAIN
Eas0n of the Second Precinct was in charge outside
the church with sixty seventy officers. Company
e. OF the 18th Regiment, WAS still guard within
The mamen had had sleep Thursday night
except what they could snatch the benches in the
lecture and their fatigue plain Ia the short
ening OF guard duty and relaxed vigilance generally
against persistent 1nruders tor the rest the process
sion passed the coffin and out through the ccureroJm
smoothly as ever. The hurrying process be-
came more and more mechanical and at times ycster-
day when the crowd greatest the usicrs and
guards succeeded in getting lOC people by the coffin
every minute. For the whole ten hours the average
much less. of course-scarcely more than sixty
minute. In all some 10000 people passed through
the church.
Yesterday was kept more or less As a holiday
throughout Brooklyn and the crowd consequently.
that gathered in the afternoon contained far larger
spriDkling OF men than Oh Thursday. Sull the
women were again greatly ill the majority, many OF
the faces OF the day before appearing again in the line
There the grumblIng and joetng. TOO, out
side, the eager air OF curiosity, the staring and
battling and suppressed excitement within. Fewer
people stopped 10 look twice az the dead man, how
aud there was scarcely sign motion OF grief
from the crowd all day either at the coffin beyond
The friends and admirers OF the great preacher
had apparently all gone by the cay before. TIE crowd
OF yesterday drawn to the church from greater
distances and by wagner and more idle curiosity.
1t had been iItended to close the church promptly
at o'clock &c give the Sunday school children d
field for hour two and then reopen it to the pub
lie from o'clock to half-past z. BY 3 O'clock bow
ever the outside the church was denscr than nj
amy tune since thursday morning. The double and
triple line stretched back from the door Orange ST.
and then in an irregular mass, which the policemen
could not get in files, down to Fulton-st below the
Bridge entrance From the Bridge hundreds i@Dt
coming TO JOIN ii, and the whole network OF streets
from Pineapple to Cranberry and over beyond Hicks
ST. was blocked against carriages and pedestrians
alike. Captain Eason and one two OF the church
committee advised letting the Sunday schools wait
until this morning and hurrying the crowd through
without break Pastor Halliday insisted that
arrangements made Tor She children and teachers
should be carried out according TO the programme.
he church, he added should be opened Immediately
alter the Sunday schools dismissed aud pe kent
open, ii necessary all night I" They must all have a
chance to see Mr.. Beecher" he said, but we can't
disappoint the children
So though more than 5, GOO people were wajting
outside IN the cold, the doors closed prcmrtly nj
O'Clock aud the three Sunday-schoos PIymouth
Bethel Mission and Mayfower Mission began 10 an
pear Ihe CHILDREN and teachers had gathered in tbe
lecture room and came through TO the church by the
east door passing down the side aisle the yestihue
theu back To the coffin anC out through the side door
on the west The older teachers the supcrinteud
ents came frst lingering for minute two about
the CONN ana turning away, many OF them, with
trembling voices md tears in their eyes Then the
classes OF boys and girls walked by the little ones
going over raised bridge, which brought Them d.,
tar enough to see the dead mans face the teachers
boys and girls carried flowers in their hands and
dropped them on the coffin in passing. few OF the
teachers plucked flowers or leaves from the coffin
decorations, storing them carefully away in purses or